USL announced an additional week and an addition two games per team for its 2018 schedule.It further referenced three expansion sides for next season, although so far only two have been officially announced, Nashville and Fresno. Many expect Las Vegas will be the third.

Playing for the first time in 2017 without any players loaned from the Philadelphia Union, Bethlehem maintained its undefeated streak by drawing the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-1. The team’s “character players” rose to the challenge.

A club record unbeaten streak, a 6-point season sweep of last year’s champions, lying fifth in the table, and achieving these while missing a major defender and two mainstay attackers provokes thoughts of eastern Pennsylvania sports fans favorite “P” word, “Playoffs.”